An history of the wonderful things of nature set forth in ten severall classes wherein are contained I. The wonders of the heavens, II. Of the elements, III. Of meteors, IV. Of minerals, V. Of plants, VI. Of birds, VII. Of four-footed beasts, VIII. Of insects, and things wanting blood, IX. Of fishes, X. Of man / written by Johannes Jonstonus, and now rendred into English by a person of quality.

Artic. 2. Of the Spots and Eclipse of the Moon.

THe substance of the Moon is spotted: if you ask the reason, wise men have said that the parts of the Moon are unequally com∣pacted. The Poets thought she carryed a Boy with her whom she lov∣ed, who covered his face for shame. When she is deprived of the Suns light, she is Eclipsed. But that is only in a diametricall oppo∣sition, when the Moon hath no declination from the Ecliptick, or that which is lesse then 67, minuts, and so it either enters the shadow of the Earth, or cannot avoid it. The antients thought she might be drawn from Heaven by Charms, and being thrust down, she might be compelled. That she powereth forth her venome and force into the hearbs that are subject to her, which may be more succesfully used in Magick arts. Hence it was that they tinkled in Cymballs, that the Charms might not be heard. There are no Eclipses of Sun or Moon, but there follow some changes in sublunary things. There was one in the yeare, 3459. And Darius at Marathon was overthrown by the Athenians with wonderfull ruine. another was, 3782. and Perseus King of the Macedonians was conquered by consul Aemilius, and an end was put to the Kingdom of Macedonia, Alsted. in thesauro Chro∣nolog: Some observe them superstitiously: for example, Niceas of Athens (Ubbo Emmius Tom. 2. vet. Graec.) being beaten at Epipolas in Sicilia; when his Country was in danger, he should have marched away, as De∣mosthenes and Eurymedon perswaded him: When he did march, the Moon was Eclipsed. Many took that for an ill Omen: this so moved Niceas, that he said he would decree nothing, to remove his Tents, un∣till three times 9, days were over, that the Wizards had foreshew∣ed. Plin: l. 2. C. 12. He did it, and so wasted the forces of the Athenians.

To this may be referred, the ridiculous opinion of some, who think that an Asse drank up the Moon: for when the Asse drank, the Moon was seen in the water, when the Asse went away, she was covered with a Cloud, and could not be seen. Wherefore they cast the mise∣rable Asse Silenus rod on, into Prison, and cut up his belly, that they might have the Moon again, and they most cruelly took out his bo∣wells. Delrius, disquisit: Magic: l. 2. quest. 11. In the year, 1499, about setting, the moon was first changed into black; then she was di∣vided

into two parts, and the one part leapt upon the other backwards, both parts were sprinkled with red. They united afterwards, and set as one Moon. Many confederacies followed, and the Nobles, who in 1496 were confederate, opposed themselves against the King of the Romans, Linturius cited by Wolsius in Memorabil.